This episode is brought to you by Yotpo.

 

Dog food that's safe and healthy enough for humans to eat? That's what Wag Tantrum is offering its customers, says Barbara Marshall, founder of the all-organic, human-grade dog food company.

 

"You can truly, truly eat it if you want to ... and if you do, I'm really going to suggest some hot sauce because it's a little on the bland side, but it's actually good, and it's good for you," Barbara says.

 

Barbara worked for ten years with her seven dogs on recipes that would make their lives healthier and happier.

 

"We need to be part of a change. We need to disrupt the dog food world," she says. "We need to help our pets get healthier. And we need to work with breeders to tell them the importance of good food so they can start reading these dogs that have a better chance at life."

 

Right now, in the U.S., 52 percent of dogs are overweight, and 80 percent of dogs over the age of 10 are diagnosed with cancer. That can be changed with a better diet, Barbara says.

 

Barbara says that getting their dog food to the consumer proved more difficult than expected, but starting the company small did help.

 

In Part 1, Barbara talks about:

 

* Gratitude for her family's support and encouragement.
* How working with a company known for supplying custom-made vitamins to physicians was key to the company's mission.
* How she got inspiration from her boxer puppy who had stage two cancer.
* Why 52 percent of dogs are considered overweight in the U.S.
* How getting the product to the market was difficult and expensive.
* How finding the right partners proved key to getting off the ground.
* Her surprise over the lack of regulation in the dog food space.

 

Join Ramon Vela and Barbara Marshall as they break down the inside story on The Story of a Brand.

 

For more on Wag Tantrum, visit: https://wagtantrum.com/ 

 

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This podcast is supported by Yotpo, the leading eCommerce marketing platform for brands looking to drive customer loyalty.

 

As I’m sure many of you know, customer retention is the new acquisition. With Yotpo, brands can provide value through a strategic loyalty program — and ensure shoppers come back time and again.

 

Want to know more? Visit https://yotpo.com/storyofabrand 

 

And turn your one-time shoppers into lifelong brand lovers.